Ultimate fighting started out as an underground sport that not many knew about. It became sanctioned a few years ago and many believe it has taken over boxing. Its popularity has soared and is now attracting a younger crowd in ways they never could have expected.

Ultimate fighting is a sport that involves both boxing and martial arts in a caged ring with a referee. They only wear small leather gloves on their hands. You have to be both good at boxing and martial arts (karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighting) in order to make it in the sport. It has become a sanctioned sport in almost every state in the country.

I was fortunate enough to interview a former ultimate fighter a couple years ago and he told me that the sport is tough and he trained with some of the best in the business. He didn't sugar coat anything when it came to being in and out of the ring.

Young children are ultimate fighting and the parents are condoning this. Hard to believe but it's true. They talked about it on ABC's "Good Morning America" this past week and Missouri is the only state where it is legal for children to participate in ultimate fighting. They wear headgear and boxing gloves. One of the parents said it was safer than playing football. The last time I looked, football players wore pads, helmets and other protective gear to help prevent injuries.

What will happen when a child breaks a bone or worse yet, does something that will prohibit them from playing sports again? The development of the body is nowhere close to being done at a young age. How can parents think this is a good thing when in reality there are many other things that could come out of this? If they are fighting now, will they become aggressive later in life and turn out totally different? Will they think they can solve their problems by going into a ring and fighting?

The best thing sanctioned ultimate fighters can do is talk to the media and other outlets about the dangers of their sport. Put a stop to it now before it gets out of hand.